Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-09-21
A Corner in Guides.

When DIR. Bunts and / got into
Chamoix there was fine how-de-do.
There was not guide to be had ex-
cept at the most exorbitant rates.
This was an extraordinary state OF
things. An American, they told us
at the Office, bad retained every guide
for the next ten days, and guide
could only be had by applying to him.
The tariff for guides is printed and
posted at all the hotels, and person
knows just what he has to pay. If he
wants to 60 to Mount Blanc the cost
will be about $50; if across the Mer
de glace the cost for guide is nine
francs; to the Glacier du Blossoms
five francs and so on.
DIR. Bunts told me he had been at the
Office Of the guides, but could do moth
ing. They were helpless. They said
it would not occur again if they could
avoid it. Of course when man re-
tanned certain number of guides for
his own use it was all right, but this
American by the aid of some friends
had managed to get claim on all the
guides for the next ten days, and he
seemed to have no use for them, for
they were standing around the hotel
within call, but idle. When this state
of things became plain to the Doctor
he was mad clear through. He went
up to the balcony of the hotel to find
j, Humphrey Potts, of Chicago, who
had hired the guides. He found that
gentleman sitting in chair that was
tilted back against the wall, while his
feet were on the railing of the balcony.
He was gazing serenely at the distant
white dome Of Mount Blanc that tow
cred above the clouds.
"How do," said Mr.. Potts, as the
Doctor appeared. "a new arrival,
eh ?"
eyes, sir" answered the Doctor,
keeping his temper as we'll as he could.
81 was told at the Office that you had
the hiring of the guides here. Are
you going to be long in the business?"
"Oh, no. 1t is Of necessity only a
short speculation. You see l came
from Chicago for my health. Health
don't seem to get much better. ] can
not climb the mountains and don't
know that 1 would care to if l could.
Thought that would give the unso-
phisticated natives few pointers on
cornering the market. There is moth
ing here to corner except guides, can't
get up financial panic on mountains
in this district. No, sir! market is
too well stocked. So l bought some
few options in guides. I'm ahead so
far in the deal. Some folks stayed
three days rather than take my terms,
and every day l raised the market on
them, and the third day they took the
guides at three times the price they
could have got them for the first day.
Lost time and board, too. So, strang-
er, if you want guide take him right
away. Price will be doubled to-mor-
row. Old Chicago may be in fiat
country but she don't get left here,
even if the hills are bigger than the
knoll in Lincoln Park"
Don't you think it's rather mean
swindle OH visitors ?" inquired the
Doctor.
"Swindloi No. sir. Legitimate
business. The guides are mine for
ten days. If you want any of 'em
you deal with me, that's all. l take
the risks of course. Supposing no
visitors came to Chamoix for that
length of time. l would be out. I'm
long on guides, you're short, do you
see? If you want to stock up on
guides you've got to do it at my fig
ures. Just the same in wheat or pork,
only in this outlandish place you can't
get any wheat or pork to corner"
Call right" said the Doctor, "Tm
on the other side Of the market, and
don't you forget it. I'm going to have
a guide, and I'm going to have him
at my own figures too. Don't you
forget that either"
IL WON'T" said Potts. "Ta ia, old
man."
The Doctor hustled into the smok-
ing room where was sitting and said
he had scheme. He was great
hand on schemes, the Doctor. We
got an interpreter and went up town.